Interview: Spanish Actress Paz Vega Takes On Action Role in CAT RUN
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- Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 06:19
- Written by Lupe Haas
Paz Vega first broke out in Spain with Sex and Lucia and followed it up in Pedro Almodovar's Talk To Her which won her acclaim in her native country. When she made moved to Hollywood, Paz won over the role of a housekeeper in James L. Brooks' Spanglish, her thirteenth film but her first in an English-language film. Paz followed up her roles in Frank Miller's The Spirit (2008) with Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson, and Morgan Freeman in 10 Items or Less (2006). She has since starred in independent and foreign films while giving birth to three children in four years.
In CAT RUN, Paz Vega plays Cat, a high class escort on the run after witnessing numerous murders involving an American politician (Christopher McDonald). With key evidence in her hands, a ruthless Mary Poppins-like assassin comes after Cat and the two bumbling detectives assisting her.
CineMovie sat down with CineMovie in our one-on-one interview with the Spanish-born beauty at the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Paz: I was offered script by casting person. I liked it very much. I found it very entertaining and a bit different to what I've done. Then I had a conversation over the phone with the director (John Stockwell) and it appealed to me. I wanted to work with John. I've never done a film like this. It's very fun.
CineMovie: In the opening scene, numerous paid escorts frolic in the nude with the clients but you were spared from taking off your clothes. As an actress, how do you feel about doing nude scenes?
Paz: For me, nudity is natural. When a scene calls for nudity, I don't judge it morally or ethically. I am an actress and do what is called for. This film is about prostitution and I play a prostitute so it would've been appropriate but there was enough nudity that it would be too much. It wasn't necessary. It was explained. But I don't have a problem with it. The role didn't require it.
CineMovie: Director John Stockwell was an actor (Top Gun, Losing It) before turning to directing films such as Blue Crush, Into the Blue and Crazy/Beautiful. How did you find it working with an actor turned director?
Paz: Since he was an actor, he knows how to communicate and get what he needs from you. He knows at what moment to leave you alone and he knows when to provoke you to get something different. It's very gratifying for an actor to work with another actor directing you. I love it. I've had two opportunities to do it.
CineMovie: This being your first action film, was there a difficult scene?
Paz: Not really. Well, for example when I had to work with the infant, I was very worried for the baby. He was very small about 7 months or so. The same age as my current child. He was so tiny. I thought to myself, 'if I had to shoot with my own child.' Poor thing. I know it's necessary to work with children in films but I feel for them and the parents who work long hours. The baby starts to cry. I was careful and worried when we shot with the child but I tried to minimize the stress on the baby. With the sound, noise, and lights I tried to take care of him.
CineMovie: How long was the shoot in Europe?Paz: The production was 40 days of long hours, running, and explosions.
CineMovie: You have three children, how do you stay in shape?
Paz: I do a lot of running around with a four-year-old who likes to play swords, run around, and ball while my 20-month-old wants a lot of attention. And then I have a seven-month-old. With that I have a lot and that's my daily exercise. And I have a gym at home.
CineMovie: You started out in Hollywood playing a Mexican housekeeper in Spanglish. Have you been offered many stereotypical roles since?
Paz: I've done everything. Not stereotypical roles. I have the handicap of the language. Well, not a handicap but the characteristic of an accent. So I will get certain roles but I don't always get the same roles. For example, the last couple of films I've made like Triage, Not Forgotten, and Human Contract. One was a artist seller or the mother of a Mexican child. So basically it's more than just the housekeeper or the sexy woman.
The good thing about LA and the US is that there is a melting pot and important positions are held by Latinos, Armenenians. or wherever they're from. It's important that it's reflected in films. I think it's getting there. There is always room for improvement but little by little, things are getting better. Soon anybody will be able to get any role out there. I feel a change in the last couple of years since I arrived. Today I audition for roles that have nothing to do with being the housekeeper, or other such things.
CineMovie: You live in Los Angeles now but what are your thoughts on the current cinema in Spain?
Paz: Truthfully, we are having a bad time in Spain at the cinema. This year has been the worst at the box office as far as Spanish films. There is always three or four films every year that save the year. The Spanish audience sees Spanish cinema with a critical eye. They often don't let you create. It's difficult but I hope it passes. I think in Spain we have marvelous directors and actors ... welll you see them here. And we have cinematographers and great technical crews. What we need is to believe more in ourselves and be more open to advance. We've seen before that great cinema can be made. All we need is to drive audiences to the theaters.
CineMovie: You have three children, how do you stay in shape?
Paz: I do a lot of running around with a four-year-old who likes to play swords, run around, and ball while my 20-month-old wants a lot of attention. And then I have a seven-month-old. With that, I have a lot and that's my daily exercise. And I have a gym at home.
CineMovie: You have two upcoming films having to do with tango dancing, are you learning to tango?
Paz: Those projects are still up in the air but I am confirmed to work on a movie -- The Jesuit, a thriller by director Paul Schraeder starring Willem Dafoe, Michelle Rodriguez and Manolo Cardona.
